“I like to play basketball. Sometimes if someone takes that away from you, you’ve got to get in your feelings for a reason.”

Utah’s Rudy Gobert suffered a bruised tibia when hit by Miami’s Dion Waiters on Friday. The two have traded barbs since the injury occurred. AP Photo/Rick Bowmer

Gobert woke up Saturday with unexpected stiffness and swelling in the leg. An MRI revealed a bruised right tibia. The 2016-17 second-team All-NBA center said it could have been worse and he’s happy to know he’ll fully recover with no ligament or structural damage. The rehab process is basically to get the swelling down and stay strong and in shape.

Playoff aspirations and individual goals remain intact, though they will be much more difficult for Utah to achieve. The Jazz have now lost Gobert for a month, Joe Johnson (wrist) has yet to return and was expected to miss a month, and Dante Exum is out for the season after shoulder surgery. All this after the team lost its top two scorers, Gordon Hayward and George Hill, during offseason free agency.

“Just frustrating that I’ll miss some time,” Gobert said. “At the same time I’m feeling lucky because when I look at the video, if I don’t lift my foot up in the air at the same moment, it’d be way worse. Good and bad.”

The Frenchman is averaging 13.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. Derrick Favors started at center Saturday and had 24 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.

The Jazz plan to reevaluate Gobert after four weeks and the general timeline for his return is four to six weeks. Utah’s top player is optimistic it will be sooner than that.

“Usually, I heal very fast,” Gobert said. “We’re not going to rush it or do anything stupid. But I’m pretty confident that I can be back before that.”